"Let There Be Light" - A place for conversation with the Rector of St. Paul's Memorial Church, 1700 University Avenue, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22903
http://www.stpaulsmemorialchurch.org/

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Jewish High Holy Days: Shana tova!

The Jewish High Holy Days began at sundown yesterday, with the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. The year is now 5771 on the Hebrew calendar.

The High Holy Days extend for 10 days, until Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the most solemn day of the year.

My friend Ilana DeBare, who is preparing for her Bat Mitzvah in middle-age, posted on her blog this reading from Gates of Repentance, the Reform Jewish prayer book. Some background written by Ilana follows. I think this is wonderful. Shana tova, Ilana!

Birth is a beginningAnd death a destination.And life is a journey:From childhood to maturityAnd youth to age;From innocence to awarenessAnd ignorance to knowing;From foolishness to discretionAnd then, perhaps, to wisdom;From weakness to strengthOr strength to weakness –And, often, back again;From health to sicknessAnd back, we pray, to health again;From offense to forgiveness,From loneliness to love,From joy to gratitude,From pain to compassion,And grief to understanding –From fear to faith;From defeat to defeat to defeat –Until, looking backward or ahead,We see that victory liesNot at some high place along the way,But in having made the journey, stage by stage,A sacred pilgrimage.Birth is a beginningAnd death a destination.And life is a journey,A sacred pilgrimage –To life everlasting.

Background from Ilana:

It turns out it was written by the late Rabbi Alvin Fine, a rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco who died in 1999 at the age of 82. Rabbi Fine’s obituary in the J. mentioned his mellifluous voice, his opposition to Joe McCarthy’s red-baiting, his Labor Zionism, his hosting of Martin Luther King Jr. and Maya Angelou at the synagogue.

It did not mention that poem – although ironically, Rabbi Fine may have touched more lives around the country through this one piece of writing than through sixteen years at the Emanu-El pulpit.

None of us know which of the many things we do -- big things, small things, even unnoticed things -- will ripple out to move others and change the world.

Whether you're Jewish or not, may you have a sweet and fulfilling 5771. And may you find time, either in the next two weeks or at a moment that is fitting for you, to reflect on your own journey in the spirit of Rabbi Fine.

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A word on words...

It is my hope that this blog will be a place of dialogue and conversation. But please consider that you are a guest in someone's home (mine). Angry yelling may work for talk-radio, but it doesn't work here. Take your anger elsewhere. Present your point of view respectfully, and be open to others having a different point of view. Be respectful. Have a conversation. Take a deep breath before you hit the "submit" button.

And, I shouldn't have to spell this out, but I will:

1- Comments that are hateful toward any individual or groups will be removed. Period.

2- Comments that promote a commercial product will also be removed.

3- Keep it tasteful; use common sense and watch your language (this is a church blog).

4- I will not be drawn into arguments with anyone leaving an anonymous posting. You can leave an opinion anonymously, and if it is respectful, I will leave it stand. But do not expect a response from me. Conversation requires both parties introducing themselves. You know who I am, so have the courage of your convictions and stand by your comment with your name. Then we'll talk.

The name of this blog is Fiat Lux -- "Let There Be Light." So, please, shed light, not heat.